General Spiritual Director
Entering the New Year with Buddha’s Blessings – Part 2
Jan 7, 2025
CELEBRATING HERUKA DAY 2023
The month of January is a special month in the Kadampa calendar during which we emphasise the practices of Heruka and Vajrayogini, the principal Highest Yoga Tantra Deities of modern Kadampa Buddhism. These sublime practices were bestowed on us by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche and were his heart practices.
Today, the twenty fifth day of the month, is Heruka Day.
Heruka is Buddha’s mind of compassion manifested as form.
In the special prayer, Request to the Lord of All Lineages, it says:
The principal of Akanishta Pure Land, Vajradhara Heruka,
Now appears in this world as an emanation of Heruka
In the form of my root Guru
Who has led me inside the great mandala of the body of Heruka
And granted me the four empowerments to ripen my mental continuum.
Thus I have become a great fortunate one who has the opportunity to accomplish in this life
The Union of Heruka by accomplishing No More Learning, the state of enlightenment.
Kadampa centers around the world celebrate this great good fortune with special pujas, prayers and other events today, January 25, which is Heruka Day.
THANK YOU VENERABLE GESHE-LA
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, from the depths of our hearts we thank you for introducing the precious practice of Heruka Body Mandala and showing us how to enter into, progress on and complete this sublime path.
Through this fortune may all living beings find supreme everlasting happiness.
